What is a 5th Major in Tennis?
Tennis is a sport with four major tournaments every year, known as the Grand Slams. They are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. But what is the fifth major in tennis?
The 5th Major is an unofficial tournament that has gained popularity in recent years. It is a combination of the two largest non-Grand Slam events, the ATP Finals and the WTA Finals. The tournament is referred to as the 5th Major due to its high prestige and the fact that it is the fifth-biggest event in the tennis calendar.
History of the 5th Major
The 5th Major was started in 2003, when the ATP and WTA Tours merged and created the ATP Finals and WTA Finals. The tournament was held in November, after the four Grand Slams, and became the biggest tournament of the year outside of the Grand Slams.
The tournament was initially known as the Masters Cup, and was later changed to the ATP Finals in 2009. The tournament has been held at various locations throughout the years, including Madrid, Shanghai, and London.
Format of the 5th Major
The tournament is played over two weeks, with the ATP Finals in the first week and the WTA Finals in the second week. The tournament consists of eight players in the ATP Finals and eight players in the WTA Finals.
The players are divided into two groups of four, and play each other in a round-robin format. The top two players from each group then advance to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals then advance to the finals, where the champion is crowned.
Prize Money of the 5th Major
The prize money for the 5th Major is the same as the other four majors, with the winner of the singles event receiving $2.5 million. The winner of the doubles event also receives $2 million.
Notable Winners of the 5th Major
The 5th Major has been won by some of the biggest stars in tennis, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams.
Notable ATP Winners
- Roger Federer: 6-time winner (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011)
- Rafael Nadal: 2-time winner (2005, 2013)
- Novak Djokovic: 6-time winner (2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)
Notable WTA Winners
- Serena Williams: 5-time winner (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Venus Williams: 2-time winner (2001, 2002)
- Kim Clijsters: 3-time winner (2003, 2004, 2005)
Criticisms of the 5th Major
The 5th Major has been criticized by some players and fans for being too similar to the Grand Slams. The tournament is often seen as a “mini-version” of the Grand Slams, as the format and prize money are very similar.
Another criticism of the 5th Major is that the players are not paid enough for the amount of work they put into the tournament. The players are expected to compete for two weeks in a row, and the prize money does not reflect the amount of effort required to win the tournament.
Conclusion
The 5th Major is an unofficial tournament that has gained popularity in recent years. It is a combination of the two biggest non-Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Finals and the WTA Finals. The tournament is referred to as the 5th Major due to its high prestige and the fact that it is the fifth-biggest event in the tennis calendar.
The tournament has been won by some of the biggest stars in tennis, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams. Although the tournament has been criticized for being too similar to the Grand Slams, it is still one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and is sure to remain a major tournament for years to come.